| Broadcasters are hailing the contribution of Ayube Ahmad Khan, popularly known as Ayube Hamid, to broadcasting in Guyana. Hamid died yesterday. Before his death, he was the longest serving active broadcaster in the country, having served for some 57 years in radio.“He lived his life for radio,” said Vic Insanally, a one-time broadcaster with Hamid, and now the owner of Guyenterprise Advertising Agency.In fact, just the day before he died, Hamid had showed up at the studios of the National Communications Network to record. His programme, Indian Memory Album, was the longest running radio show ever in the country, and he anchored it throughout, to his death. Insanally said that Hamid’s death was sudden for him.He acknowledged that broadcasters came in shortly after the news had broken to honour him for his unrelenting commitment to broadcasting. At the time of his death, Hamid was producing a total of four programmes a week for radio.Insanally told Kaieteur News that he and other colleagues, such as Dr Rovin Deodat, were planning an event to celebrate Hamid’s contribution to broadcasting.He recalled that Hamid would always tell them: “If you have something to say, say it to me now; I don’t want anybody saying anything when I am dead.”Insanally recalled that, as a boy, he listened to Ayube Hamid’s morning and midday shows. And later, he joined the field of broadcasting himself.“A lot of us lost our voice for radio, but his voice remained as strong as ever,” said Insanally, who also admired Ayube Hamid for his dedication to his spiritual life.“He was a really decent man.”Ron Robinson, another of the country’s longstanding broadcasters, was also high in praise for Ayube Hamid. In fact, Robinson, who joined radio in 1965, now has the distinction of being the country’s longest standing active broadcaster.“Ayube was the icon of broadcasting in Guyana. His voice never faltered,” Robinson said in reflection. He recalled that Hamid had served in several capacities at the radio station, and his posts included Programme Manager and Sales Manager.He said that Hamid was a mentor to many, as he was always ready to offer good advice, but was serious about work. ‘Once you accept to go on radio, tiredness is not an excuse,” he remembered Hamid telling him one time.Robinson, too, had admiration for Hamid’s dedication to Islam.“He was a strong Muslim; he lived his religion.”Another of those paying tribute to Hamid’s contribution to radio was Margaret Lawrence.“I admired his loyalty to the broadcasting fraternity. He was always willing to share his knowledge,” she said, noting, that he was always meticulous about pronunciation.Because of this, she remembers challenging him to pronounce “pronunciation” at one time, and him getting it wrong because he thought the word was spelt “pronounciation!”“I had that one over him!” she boasted. But he accepted graciously, once he was convinced he was wrong. It was part of his philosophy that you are never too old to learn.“The fraternity has lost a great broadcaster,” was how she summed up her reflection of Ayube Hamid.The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) also paid tribute to Ayube Hamid, saying it was deeply saddened at the passing of the “veteran broadcaster.”“Mr. Hamid’s voice, through his many years of broadcasting on radio, became a household feature to thousands of Guyanese.“A void in this field has been created following his death. Guyana and radio have lost an icon, as his experience can no longer be benefited from,” the IAC added. The IAC, in 2006, conferred one of its achievement awards to Hamid in recognition of his “outstanding contributions to broadcasting.” The late Ayube Hamid was laid to rest following a funeral service at the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana, Woolford Avenue in Georgetown.Among those paying their respects were President Bharrat Jagdeo, several Government ministers and members of the media fraternity. |
